St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-06-11
ILL.USED STRENGTH:

eT0o Str0nG" and Broke Every 3A1nl
He Touched.
It seemed that Geoff was the most
unfortunate boy in the world. for h<
was:nearly always in trouble. And yet he
was not exactly bad boy. for he did
not wish to displease his mother. and
was great deal happier when they
praised than when they blamed him.
Sometimes when he sat down to think.
which was not often. he tried to find
out the reason Of his misfortune. and
one day he thought he had it
II am too strong" he said. THAT is
what is the matter with me. As soon
as touch a thing it seems to break. Only
to-day took hold Of plate. think
It must have been cracked. but. at all
events. it came in two in my hand, and
of course l got the blame Of breaking
1t. 1t must be because am q great
strong fellow. Fred is different; he
would not have broken the plate il he
had held it for an hour; but then he has
no strength at all in his hands. Mother,
the best thing you can do is to starve
me q little. and then. perhaps. you
would not have to call me . breaking
boy"
Before Geoff's mother could answer,
his sister spoke:
1T is very well for you to try to dis
pose Of the matter in that way" she
said; ''but surely you know that it is
not your strength. but your awkward
ness. which is in fault"
Il don't know. Let me prove il "a
you." said Geof. '.Look here. take
up this doll"
Geoff was interrupted by . scream.
His little sister. Annie. few to the res-
cue Of her favorite.
%. Geoff. put down that doll! 1 be
lieve il you only look at her she will
break. Now, see, she is broken"
Annie began to cry. and poor Geof
looked sheepish. But he tried to com
tort his little sister, and wished fer
vently that h, had half . do lar in his
pocket at the moment to give her.
Il declare / only gently tried to
straighten the dolls arms. and one of
them must needs come OF directly. It's
too bad that dolls arms should be
made % soft and weak. II I had .
doll, she should be strong"
ssS:ss.ing but an iron doll would do
Tor you." sGid Annie. resentfully;
'.and believe you would contrivs to
break that somehow or other"
Nov don't be cross. Annie. 4
broken arm is not nearly - bod -
broken head. But is it not strange
that can not touch . thing without
breaking it?"
THAT is not quite the case" said
Geoff's mother.
"You 90 not break every thing that
you touch. and suppose it is only the
fragile things that come to grief. But
you need to practice gentleness, my
boy. You have large and strong hands.
and you use unnecessary force. Only
this morning when you took my arm
In the garden you seized it as il it were
something that would slip away, or
something heavy that needed all your
power to retain it. II my arm had
been not soft. am not sure that it also
would not have been broken"
20 mother. ! am sorry. Did I really
hurt you?"
"A little. Geoff; but did not mind
It. and only speak of it in the hope
that you may be careful in future"
II DECLARE" said Nellie. '.that II
Geonf catches hold Of my arm when We
are at play. it is always black and blue
for day or two afterwards"
'.Nonsense!' said Geoif; but he look
ed very sorry and panied.
II am sure. mother. something must
be done. he said presently; '.you must
put me ON short commons. and then,
perhaps, shall get thin and weak"
"But my boy. l do not want You 70
get thin and weak. Strong hands are
needed in this world, and hope yours
will do some good and useful work
when you are little older. You must
try to cultivate kindly heart and
thoughtful spirit. and then you will
know in time how much force is needed
to do or to hold things I shall be glad
when the time comes. for it Is very ex-
pensive to have breaking boy in the
family.
Poor Geo6 did try; but the next day
he was even more unfortunate than he
had been before-for this time he broke
himself!
He was in IN apple tree. having vol
unteered to 90 and gather the apples;
but instead Of taking caro- of himself,
b went to work With al the energy
aAd eare>eseness which - would heve